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In the latest issue of our journal...

The Mosley Rally

THE BLACKSHIRT RALLY at King's Hall, Belle Vue in February 1933 marked a new phase in the development of bullying and intimidation by the blackshirts.

John Tocher and the limits of commitment

Geoff Brown

What follows explores Tocher’s commitments and achievements, asking why he left the Communist Party in 1976 and why it is so hard to know his reasons.

Mary Hardie Bamber 1874 – 1938

James Rees

she always has her sleeves rolled up for action – direct action for preference

Workers’ Memorial Day

by Paul Dennett

The industrial revolution transformed agricultural Britain into ‘the workshop of the world’. But in the face of technological advancement and a vast increase in the production of wealth, the changes brought had horrific consequences for the lives of many working class people.

A Mad Race for Armaments

David Hargreaves

This article looks at the events leading up to the setting up of Royal Commission on the Arms Trade in 1935, especially looking at the contributions of those from the North West active in the socialist and peace movements who campaigned against the arms trade.

Betty Tebbs: A woman with no fear of the powerful

Linda Clair remembers the friend and comrade with whom she campaigned for almost four decades

Strawberry Studios

by Eddie Little

For over twenty five years Stockport’s Strawberry Studios, opened in 1967, was one of the most important recording venues in the country. Fifty years on, the legacy of Strawberry Studios is being celebrated at Stockport Museum with a year-long exhibition of memorabilia and historic items

‘We Only Want The Earth’

A review by Stephen Rydzkowski

On a Sunday afternoon on April 2017 the North West Labour History Group went on tour, from our Salford headquarters to Manchester!

John Smethurst Interview - part 2

In April 2008, in an interview with Eddie Little, John Smethurst related his workplace experiences. These appeared in Journal 40 in 2014. In this extract John recollected his developing interest in politics and in Labour History

The ‘Real Rebels’ of the First World War

Alison Ronan

the Women’s Peace Crusade in the textile towns of East Lancashire 1917-1918
Barrow to Bristol,
Manchester to Melksham,
Accrington to Aberdeen,
Nelson to Norwich...

The North West Labour History Society (NWLH) promotes greater knowledge of the rich, radical, labour history from the North West of England.

The society celebrates our history - which includes events and movements such as Peterloo, Chartism, the growth of trade unionism, the Irish community in the NW, Votes for Women, the formation of Socialist organisations, opposition to war, the General Strike, the International brigades and the fight against the Blackshirts, to name just a few.

Join us at the North West Labour History Society as we continue to publish and promote the real histories and stories of ordinary working men and women - people who have worked together to improve their working conditions, and their quality of life.

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Issue 42

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The ‘Real Rebels’ of the First World War by Alison Ronan John Smethurst Interview - part 2"We Only Want The Earth" A review by Stephen Rydzkowski Remembering the Blanketeers Transcript of a talk given by Trevor Fisher Strawberry Studios by Eddie Little Betty Tebbs: A woman with no fear of the powerful by Linda Clair A Mad Race for Armaments by David Hargreaves Cinderella comes to Manchester by Chris Clayton Workers’ Memorial Day by Paul Dennett Mary Hardie Bamber 1874 – 1938 by James Rees John Tocher and the limits of commitment by Geoff Brown The Mosley Rally King's Hall Belle Vue, February 1933 by Bernard Rothman

Peterloo Bicentenary

As the bicentenary of Peterloo approaches we welcome articles about Peterloo itself, but also, broadening the narrative, to include other instances of state violence, or indifference to the well-being of the mass of the population.

Events which may be of interest...

Greater Manchester CND is hosting a public meeting about alternatives to war.

With unstable leaders in both the US and North Korea, the Tories spending billions on a new generation of nuclear weapons and conflict raging across the Middle East, the global situation is looking bleak.